Councils sign up to Gatwick agreement

THE county council and three other local authorities in Surrey have added their names to an agreement which pledges to protect the interests of residents around Gatwick ahead of possible future development for the West Sussex airport.

THE county council and three other local authorities in Surrey have added their names to an agreement which pledges to protect the interests of residents around Gatwick ahead of possible future development for the West Sussex airport.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ensures the councils - also including Tandridge, Mole Valley and Reigate & Banstead - will work together to resolve issues surrounding transport, noise reduction and air quality management.

The county council will contribute technical support to the Gatwick Surface Access Strategy, which deals with how passengers get to the airport, and will look at extending the Fastway bus service which currently runs from Crawley and Horley.

It will also work with Crawley and West Sussex councils to address unauthorised car parking and to press the Department of Transport to introduce noise reduction measures on the M23.

East Sussex County Council, Mid Sussex District Council and Horsham District Council have also signed up to the MOU.

Gatwick currently has two terminals and one runway, but an announcement in September that BAA plans to sell the airport has led to fears of further development.